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Ranieri vows to keep focused as Leicester close on title

Claudio Ranieri: Has guided Leicester to brink of title

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri insists he will keep calm as the Foxes close in on the title.

The Foxes will win the Premier League with victory at Manchester United on Sunday, the first top-flight crown in their 132-year history.

They are seven points clear of second placed Tottenham and Spurs must win all of their games and hope Leicester slip up to stand a chance of beating the Foxes.

Ranieri has never won a top league in his 30-year managerial career, finishing second four times including with Chelsea in 2004, but the Italian maintained he is keeping his emotions in check.

“I understand that people want to start to dream and to enjoy but I am a pragmatic man,” said Ranieri, whose first game in England with Chelsea was a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford in September 2000.

“It (the excitement) is not difficult to understand. For the first time in the club’s life, they can win the title. It is unbelievable, it is history. I have felt a lot of emotion but I haven’t seen it this early before. In Italy, they are very superstitious.

“We are fighting to turn this dream into a reality. But not yet. I see all the happiness around the city and that’s great, but it’s not finished.

“Sunday will be a very tough match, I have a lot of respect for (Louis) Van Gaal, the players and Manchester United fans. I know very well it will be a very difficult match. But we go with the same mentality.”

“‘Stay calm’, I tell the players, ‘Stay hungry’. I told the players that everything is in our hands. If our strength is being solid and concentrated, then we must continue.”